The down pipes just stop at ground level wich means the water must drain into the soil. It seams as if the water now runs under the foundation underneeth the floor to the front of the house. I heard of the drainaged cystem with the perforated pipe but have no experience to install it myself.

You can try collecting the water so it can be used later to water the garden. http://www.houzz.com/rain-water-collection

Step 1 is to extend your downspout further away from your foundation.

ftheunissen...There are different types of drain systems. Can you add some photos of your home?

That is no good. You need to route that water away at least to a gravel pit a good 20 - 30 feet from your home.

I would find out your local frost elevation and install 4" Solid PVC Pipe (for rain water) and have it enter a sump and then discharge to a gravel pit.

Better still would be hooking up to your city's storm line if they have one.

With a back flow valve you can also rig up a sump and then tie into the sewer line if your city allows this.

Good luck

the sump and gravel pit sounds more like the selution. How do i tackle this

Advice from bubbasgma is the simplest and least expensive - best if it solves your issue. If not you can also evaluate the use of light duty trench drains to handle the surface stormwater around the house in a controlled manner - check www.acomarkant for products. Once the water goes into the ground it is more difficult to control. Collecting the water for reuse is also a good advice.

Are you on a hill, with the back yard a higher elevation than the house? If you have a steep pitch toward the front, you'll have to direct the water from the back to the sides of the house and then down the front yard to the street. To do that, dig a trench across the back of the house a few yards behind, with a slight crown in it and attach your downspout, then run your drain to the sides of the house and down to the street.
If you're not on a hill, you basically need to dig a pitched trench to lay your pvc pipe in, ending at the gravel pit. The other end should connect to the down spout. Alternatively, you could put a rain barrel, elevated a bit, at the end of the downspout, with a spigot at the bottom. Then you can either use the water to water your plants/lawn with a soaker hose attachment (slow release) or wash your car with it or something along those lines.

Tying into sewer or storm lines would be ideal, but not commonly allowed in the States.

Aco Systems....We're learning the "hard way"! We experienced a "300 year rain event" last spring. Dry wells quickly reached capacity and backed-up. Homes illegally hooked up to the city storm sewers caused sewage to back up in their neighbors homes. People with buried flexible-perforated pipe found they were too clogged with debris. And THEN electricity was shut down, so residents could be evacuated, rendering sump pumps non-operational.

And now the 3rd snowiest and coldest winter on record. Buried downspout extensions and "pop-ups" are frozen and covered with snow leading to ice dams on roofs.

After a ton of research (and standing out in the rain!) we'll be regrading the yard this spring, using "swales" to keep the water away from the house where we can. And trench drains to "daylight" where we can't. I think?? Ahaha!

Ja there is a +- 600mm Rise from the front to the back of the house, I will take some photos and place them on your web. Thanks for all the responce from you guys around the globe. Ps I reside in Kemptonpark South africa, And yes as you can see on the news the rain realy hit us hard this season.
Regards Cois.

I've had to deal with a similar issue. My yard was graded toward my house. I've dug out all of the lawn (well, not the back yet, I'm just a one man army), amended the soil with sand and wood shavings, and dug a swale on the left side of the house. Next I need a couple of rain barrels and then I have to get the city to rip out the sidewalk (I live in Houston, with mobile soil so the sidewalk is a trip hazard). Right now aside from being a trip hazard, it's also a dam since I've re-sloped the yard toward the street. Once the sidewalk is gone, I can run some pipe through the curb and finally out to the street. Then I'll replace the sidewalk with pavers, and actually properly prepare the ground so the pavers don't buck all over the place.

It's been as fascinating as it has frustrating to watch the changes take effect with each rain while in the process. It's important to deal with though as water is death to a house.

Fascinating it is!!!! And rewarding, when you've finally moved enough dirt to get the water to drain the correct direction!! Glad to know I'm not the only one standing out in the rain with a flashlight!